Acrylate polymers modified with poly(phenylene ether)

Abstract

Acrylate or methacrylate polymers, or copolymers of acrylates and/or methacrylates with other vinyl monomers, are blended in compositions with poly(phenylene ether), and/or with a poly(phenylene ether) concentrate containing poly(phenylene ether), polystyrene, a vinyl aromatic copolymer, polyamide, polycarbonate, polyester, poly(alkyl acrylate), and/or poly(alkyl methacrylate). The blended compositions may also optionally contain additional vinyl aromatic copolymer as a separate component, impact modifiers, thermoplastic molding materials including polycarbonate, polyester, polystyrene, polyolefin, polyamide, poly(vinyl chloride), polyurethane, polyacetal, and conventional additives such as dyes and pigments.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An improved composition of matter of the type which comprises, in admixture, (a) poly(alkyl acrylate); and   (b) a blend of poly(phenylene ether) with (i) a random, alternate, block, or grafted copolymer prepared from a vinyl aromatic compound and maleic anhydride, and   (ii) polycarbonate,      wherein the poly(phenylene ether) is present in the composition in an amount of 5 weight percent of the composition or less.   
     
     
       2. The composition of claim 1 further comprising a thermoplastic elastomer, a core-shell elastomer, or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
       3. The composition of claim 2 wherein the thermoplastic elastomer comprises an olefinic elastomer. 
     
     
       4. The composition of claim 1 further comprising one or more ignition resistance additives selected from halogenated hydrocarbons, halogenated carbonate oligomers, halogenated diglycidyl ethers, organophosphorous compounds, fluorinated olefins, antimony oxide and metal salts of aromatic sulfur compounds. 
     
     
       5. The composition of claim 4 wherein the ignition resistance additives are Tetrabromo Bisphenol-A carbonate oligomer, triphenyl phosphate and poly(tetrafluoroethylene). 
     
     
       6. The composition of claim 1 in the form of a molded article. 
     
     
       7. The molded article of claim 6 which has a 20° gloss of less than 70 when measured according to ASTM Designation D 523-85. 
     
     
       8. The method of claim 6 wherein component (b) further comprises one or more pigments or dyes. 
     
     
       9. The composition of claim 1 wherein the poly(phenylene ether) is present in the composition in an amount of 4.5 weight percent of the composition or less. 
     
     
       10. The composition of claim 1 wherein the poly(phenylene ether) is present in the composition in an amount of 3 weight percent of the composition or less. 
     
     
       11. The composition of claim 1 wherein the poly(alkyl acrylate) is present in the composition in an amount of about 15 parts to about 95 parts, by weight of the total composition. 
     
     
       12. The composition of claim 1 wherein the polycarbonate is prepared from one or more bisphenols represented by the formula ##STR5## wherein: (I) Z is (A) a divalent radical, of which all or different portions can be (i) linear, branched, cyclic or bicyclic, (ii) aliphatic or aromatic, and/or (iii) unsaturated, said divalent radical being composed of 1-35 carbon atoms together with up to five oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorous and/or halogen atoms; or (B) S, S 2 , SO, SO 2 , O or CO; or (C) a single bond; and (II) each X is independently hydrogen, a halogen or a C 1  -C 12  linear or cyclic alkyl, alkoxy, aryl or aryloxy radical.   
     
     
       13. The composition of claim 1 wherein the poly(phenylene ether) is comprised of a plurality of structural units described generally by the formula ##STR6## wherein each Q 1  is independently hydrogen, halogen, primary or secondary C 1  -C 8  alkyl, phenyl, haloalkyl, aminoalkyl, hydrocarbonoxy, or halohydrocarbonoxy wherein at least two carbon atoms separate the halogen and oxygen atoms; and each Q 2  is independently hydrogen, halogen, primary or secondary C 1-C   8  alkyl, phenyl, haloalkyl, hydrocarbonoxy or halohydrocarbonoxy wherein at least two carbon atoms separate the halogen and oxygen atoms. 
     
     
       14. The composition of claim 1 wherein the vinyl aromatic compound is styrene or a substituted derivative thereof. 
     
     
       15. A method of molding an article comprising (I) forming a composition by melting in a molding machine components (a) and (b) which have not previously been melted together, said components (a) and (b) comprising (a) poly(alkyl acrylate), and   (b) a blend of poly(phenylene ether) with (i) a random, alternate, block or grafted copolymer prepared from a vinyl aromatic compound and maleic anhydride, and   (ii) polycarbonate; and (II) molding said article from said composition.